Shot shell



Jan. 6, 1970 G.`E. HENDRlcKs 3,437,779

SHOT SHELL Filed Jan.- 17, 196e NVE VTOR. GROVE/9 E'. HE NDR/GKS' A T TOR/VE Y United States Patent O U.S. Cl. 102-42 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A shot shell having a molded plastic casing receiving a wad and characterized by a front end portion of reduced wall thickness crimped to confine and position thevwad and shot elements and also by a primer cavity defining part projecting inwardly from the casing base circumferentially spaced from the casing wall and having its forward end portion inwardly anged.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a plastic shot shell for use in Shotguns and constitutes an improvement over my U.S. Patent No. 3,261,282 issued July 19, 1966.

This invention comprises `a plastic shell casing having a major portion of its inner wall surface cylindrically shaped and a circumferentially spaced integral projection defining a primer cavity in its base, the forward end of said projection being inwardly iianged. A plastic wad is mounted within said shell casing and has a base and a skirt portion. The base portion of the wad has a recess therein defining a powder chamber in cooperation with `a part of said shell casing. The skirt portion of the wad includes iiexible longitudinally directed panels for snugly engaging said shell casing inner Wall. The wall defining the open end of said shell casing is of reduced thickness and is inwardly crimped to close a shot chamber within the skirt portion of said wad.

The shot shell of this invention includes an integral primer cavity or housing portion integral with its base and spaced from the side Wall of said shell casing by a deep circumferential groove to assure application of a radial compressive force upon the sides of the primer cavity defining portion upon detonation of the powder charge of the shell, thus retaining the primer within the portion which mounts it and prevents blow back of the powder charge gases. The forward end of the primer cavity defining portion is inwardly flanged to position the primer unit and provide a sealing rim about the firing hole of the primer cup to assure a maximum reaction from the primers detonation, Although the shell casing of this invention is intended to be reusable, after several reloadings the casing will generally weaken and have a tendency to tear by virtue of the crimped end portion of the casing being projected to cylindrical form to release the shot. By having the crimp formed in the thin walled portion of the casing, any tearing of the shell casing will tend to occur along the margin of the crimp as the shot leaves the casing and not -along its side portions, thus insuring a desired pattern of shot dispersal despite the tearing action.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a shot shell which accurately positions a primer unit and which, during detonation, retains the primer snugly within its cavity and prevents blow back of the priming powder and powder charge gases.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a shot shell casing which, if caused to rupture during repeated use, will tear about the margin of its crimp and not along its longitudinal sides.

Further objects of this invention will become apparent upon a reading of its description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A preferred embodiment of this invention has been chosen for purposes of illustration and description where- 1n:

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of the shot shell of this invention.

FIG. 2 is an end view of the shot shell.

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the shell casing utilized in the shot shell of this invention.

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of a modified wad utilized in the shot shell of this invention.

FIG. 5 is an end sectional view of the modified wad taken along line 5 5 of FIG. 4.

DESCRIPTION lOF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The preferred embodiment illustrated is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. It is chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its application and practical use to thereby enable others skilled in the art to utilize the invention.

The shot shell of this invention includes a shell casing 10 which is preferably molded from `a plastic material, such as polyethylene or polypropylene, and which has `a base portion 12 and an integrally connected tubular portion 14. Base portion 12 includes an end wall 13 bordered by annular ange 15 and having an internal concentric annular projection 18. The portion 16 of tubular portion 14 which surrounds the projection 18 `defines a deep circumferential groove 22 preferably having a width at least equal to the wall thickness of portion 16. A cavity 20 is formed in the annular projection 18 and is enlarged at its mouth at 21. An inwardly extending flange 19 is formed at the inner or forward end of annular projection 18 and defines a firing hole 26. A primer member or unit 24 fits snugly in cavity 20, seating on fiange 19 and with an annular rib thereof received in mouth 21.

The exterior surfaces of tubular portions 14 and 16 are of like cylindrical configuration. An internal annular shoulder 30 is formed between tubular portions 14 and 16. The inner surface of tubular portion 14 is of cylindrical or slightly tapered configuration. Tubular portion 14 terminates in a thin walled section 32.

Positioned within tubular portion 14 is a wad 34. Wad 34 is preferably molded from a thermoplastic shape retaining material, having some measure of flexibility, and includes a base part 36 and an integrally connected thin walled skirt part 38. Wad 34 preferably has a, substantially cylindrical outer configuration adapted to fit snugly within tubular portion 14 of shell casing 10. Wad base part 36 has a recess 40, preferably conically shaped and concentrically formed in its rearward end. The major diameter of recess 40 is preferably slightly less than the diameter of base part 36 so as to form an annular end surface 42 adapted to seat upon shoulder 30.

The skirt part 38 of the wad is of thin walled tubular construction having elongated longitudinal slots 44 circumferentially spaced therein, Slots 44 preferably extend from the free end of skirt 38 to the base part 36, forming exible panels 46 therebetween. Each panel 46 preferably has an integral internal longitudinal reinforcing rib 48.

For shells with which wide shot patterns are desired, a conically shaped post 50 may be concentrically positioned interiorly of skirt part 38, projecting forwardly and longitudinally from base part 36 as shown in FIG. 4.

Wad 34 slidably fits within tubular portion 14 of shell casing 10 with end surface 42 bearing against the shoulder 30 of base portion 16. The cavity 51 formed in part by circumferential groove 22 and recess 40 is filled with a charge 54. The thin walled section or end portion 32 of tubular part 14 is folded inwardly at the free ends of panels 46 of the wad, and a star crimp is formed therein, as by application of heat and pressure, to form an end wall 58 to retain the shot charge 54 within the shot shell.

What I claim is:

1. A shot shell comprising:

a shell casing formed of flexible shape-retaining plastic material including a tubular portion having a uniform outer diameter and an integrally connected end wall, an internal annular part projecting inwardly from said end Wall and defining a primer cavity, said annular part being spaced from said tubular portion by a deep circumferential groove having a Width at least equal to the thickness of the tubular portion deining it, a primer member mounted within said annular part, said tubular portion having an internal shoulder spaced from said end wall, said tubular portion terminating in a thin walled marginal section, a wad of iexible shape-retaining plastic material snugly disposed in said tubular portion, said 'wad having a base and a skirt portion, said base portion abutting said internal annular shoulder and having a recess therein cooperating with the inner part of said shell casing to define a powder chamber, a powder charge confined within said powder chamber, said wad skirt portion including a thin tubular wall integrally connected to said wad base portion and having a plurality of elongated longitudinally directed slots therein'extending tothe free end of said Wall, said thin Walled marginal section of said shell casing being bent over the free end of said wad skirt portion and inwardly crimped to define a shot retaining Wall, and shot members confined within said skirt portion by said wall.

2. The shot shell of claim 1, 'wherein the forward end of said internal annular part defining the primer cavity has an annular flange overlying and engaging in perpheral sealing contact the end of said primer adjacent its tiring hole.

3. The shot shell of claim 1, wherein said wad base portion has a conically shaped projection extending longitudinally and interiorly of said wad skirt portion.

4. The shot shell of claim 1, wherein that portion of said wad defining its base portion recess is of a conical configuration.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,215,076 11/1965 Foote et al. 102-42 3,215,077 11/1965` Mayer'et al. IGZ-44 3,261,282 7/1966 Hendricks 102-42 3,285,174 11/1966 Moehlmann et a-l. 102-42 3,299,813 1/1967 Rickey 102-42 ROBERT F. STAHL, Primary Examiner 

